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Leila de Lima

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This name uses Philippine naming customs. The middle name or maternal family name is Magistrado and the surname or paternal family name is de Lima.
The Honorable
Leila de Lima
Leila de Lima (cropped).jpg
Senator of the Philippines
Assumed office
June 30, 2016
Secretary of the Philippine Department of Justice
In office
June 30, 2010 – October 12, 2015
President Benigno Aquino III
Preceded by Alberto Agra (acting)
Succeeded by Alfredo Caguioa (acting)
Chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Human Rights
In office
May 2008 – June 30, 2010
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Preceded by Purificacion Quisumbing
Succeeded by Etta Rosales
Personal details
Born Leila Norma Eulalia Josefa Magistrado de Lima
(1959-08-27) August 27, 1959 (age 57)
Iriga, Camarines Sur
Political party Liberal (2015–present)
Alma mater De La Salle University
San Beda College
Profession Lawyer

Leila Norma Eulalia Josefa Magistrado de Lima (born August 27, 1959)[1] is a Filipino lawyer, human rights activist and politician. She was appointed by president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as Chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Human Rights in May 2008. She served in the commission until June 30, 2010, when she was appointed by President Benigno S. Aquino III as the Philippines' Secretary of the Department of Justice.

She resigned as justice secretary on October 12, 2015, to focus on her candidacy for a seat in the Senate of the Philippines in what was then an oncoming 2016 Philippine general election. She eventually won one of the twelve contested seats and will serve as a Philippine senator in the Philippines' 17th Congress.

Early life[edit]

She is the eldest daughter of the former Philippine COMELEC Commissioner Vicente de Lima and Norma Magistrado. She was born and raised in Iriga City of the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines.[2] De Lima's aunt, Julie de Lima, married Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison, making him Leila de Lima's uncle by marriage.[3] She completed basic education at the Consolacion Academy (now La Consolacion College), where was bestowed as class Valedictorian. She graduated in 1980 from the De La Salle University with an AB History degree. She finished her Bachelor of Laws (Salutatorian) degree at the San Beda College of Law in 1985.[2] She placed 8th in the 1985 Philippine Bar Examinations with an 86.26% rating.[4]

Legal career[edit]

De Lima served as legal staff to Supreme Court Associate Justice Isagani A. Cruz from 1986 to 1989. She joined the Jardeleza Sobreviñas Diaz Hayudini and Bodegon Law Offices in 1989 where she served as a junior associate and in the same position at the Jardeleza Law Offices in 1991 to 1993. After serving in the government from 1993 to 1995, she joined Roco, Buñag, Kapunan and Migallos law firm and served as its Junior Partner. She set up her own firm, named The De Lima Law Firm from 1998 and served as counsel in various election cases, most notably the electoral protest of Koko Pimentel in the 2007 Senate election over the 12th seat occupied by Miguel Zubiri.

She also served as professor of law at the San Beda College of Law during her private practice. She taught Election Law, Business Organizations, Persons and Family Relations, Transportation Law, and Statutory Construction. De Lima has two sons from a former marriage.[2]

De Lima joined the Philippine government on 1993 when she served as Clerk and Secretary of the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal. She resigned in 1995 to return to private practice.

Political career[edit]

Under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Leila de Lima was appointed Chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Human Rights. When Benigno Aquino III took over, de Lima was tapped as Secretary of the Department of Justice under the President-elect's new Cabinet.

Justice secretary[edit]

On July 2, 2010, de Lima took over the helm of the Philippine Department of Justice. In her speech, she said that "the marching orders of President Benigno Aquino III were not mere election promises...Reform is a fundamental theme of this administration: first to rid ourselves of corruption and second to shore up our competence."[5] On August 27, 2015, Justice Secretary de Lima assisted Isaias Samson, an expelled Minister of Iglesia ni Cristo, in filing a case against the sect. Members protested at the DOJ office the next day while others occupied EDSA in Mandaluyong a few days later to urge de Lima to resign, and give focus to the Mamasapano clash where 2 members of the INC were killed.[6]

Senate[edit]

De Lima of the Liberal Party condemned the Philippine Drug War and urged the Philippine Congress to investigate.[7] She called for an end of vigilante killings of drug suspects. On her privilege speech at Senate on August 2, she noted that "we cannot wage the war against drugs with blood..."[8] De Lima laments the indifference of the new government to extrajudicial killings and warns that more innocent people will suffer if the killings fail to stop.[9]

On August 17, 2016, the Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte alleged that de Lima had been having an affair with her driver, Ronnie Dayan, who Duterte also alleged functioned as De Lima’s collector for drug protection money when she was the Justice Secretary. Duterte also alleged that De Lima’s driver had been using drugs.[10] Duterte later announced that he had in his possession wiretaps and ATM records which confirmed his allegations. He explained that he had received them from an unnamed foreign country.[11] In September 2016, de Lima was removed from her position chairing a Senate committee investigating extrajudicial killings.[12][13] In September 2016, de Lima was removed from her position chairing a Senate committee investigating extrajudicial killings. De Lima, later, admitted her relationship with Dayan.[14]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "De Lima, Leila Norma Eulalia Josefa, Magistrado" (PDF). Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 4 September 2016. 
  2. ^ a b c http://www.chr.gov.ph/MAIN%20PAGES/about%20us/member%20profile/LMDL_profile.htm Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Profile
  3. ^ Joma Sison uncle
  4. ^ http://www.realitytv.nfo.ph/leila-de-lima-profile-and-picture/
  5. ^ http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100702-278780/New-DoJ-chief-Get-rid-of-corruption-shore-up-competence New DoJ chief: Get rid of corruption, shore up competence
  6. ^ Gamil, Jaymee; Yee, Jovic; Quismundo, Tarra (29 August 2015). "Iglesia Ni Cristo protesters occupy Edsa". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 30 August 2015. 
  7. ^ "Duterte crime war 'out of control': Philippine critics". Retrieved July 9, 2016. 
  8. ^ "Stop the killings–Leila". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016. 
  9. ^ "De Lima: Stop the killings now". ABS-CBN News. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016. 
  10. ^ http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/807597/duterte-tells-de-lima-i-have-witnesses-against-you (August 18, 2016). "Duterte tells De Lima: I have witnesses against you". Inquirer Mindanao. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 22, 2016. 
  11. ^ "'Love affair led to corruption'" (AUGUST 21, 2016). LLANESCA PANTI. The Manila Times. Retrieved August 22, 2016. 
  12. ^ "Senate ousts De Lima as justice committee chairperson". Rappler. September 19, 2016. 
  13. ^ "'Love affair led to corruption'" (AUGUST 21, 2016). LLANESCA PANTI. The Manila Times. Retrieved August 22, 2016. 
  14. ^ "De Lima admits past relatonship with Ronnie Dayan". GMA News. November 14, 2016. 
Preceded by
Alberto Agra		 Secretary of Justice
2010 – 2015		 Succeeded by
Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa
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